Chapter 3 Computer Software Computer Concepts 2012 3 Chapter Contents Section A: Software Basics Section B: Popular Applications Section C: Buying Software Section D: Installing Software and Upgrades Section E: Security Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 2 3 FastPoll True/False Questions Answer A for True and B for False 030100 Word processing software and operating systems are examples of application software. 030200 Spreadsheets are classified as utility software. 030300 The software you install to help a printer communicate with a computer is called a device driver. 030400 Desktop publishing software is based on frames. 030500 Spreadsheet software is particularly useful for what-if analyses. Chapter 3: Computer Software 3 3 FastPoll True/False Questions Answer A for True and B for False 030600 Database software stores information in HTML codes. 030700 CAD software is a good choice for professionalquality photo editing. 030800 Payroll software is a good example of vertical market business software. 030900 If the main screen of a software product does not contain a copyright notice, it is legal to make copies and share them with your friends. 031000 A EULA is a license agreement that specifies how to legally use a software product. Chapter 3: Computer Software 4 3 FastPoll True/False Questions Answer A for True and B for False 031100 Open source software is public domain. 031200 The Windows Registry is a database that keeps track of a computer’s peripheral devices, software, preferences, and settings. 031300 Downloaded software is usually zipped to decrease download time. 031400 Hash codes are used to generate a unique number as part of the software activation process. Chapter 3: Computer Software 5 3 FastPoll True/False Questions Answer A for True and B for False 031500 Web apps typically are installed on your computer’s local hard disk. 031600 A software worm can replicate itself. 031700 To keep your antivirus software up to date, it is important to get updates of the rootkit. 031800 Botnets offer effective security protection from spyware. Chapter 3: Computer Software 6 3 SECTION A Software Basics Software Categories Application Software Utility Software Device Drivers Chapter 3: Computer Software 7 3 Question 032100 Software publishers offer a huge variety of products for personal computer owners. From which of the following categories does the typical computer owner purchase add-on software? – A. System software and operating systems – B. Application software and utilities – C. Device drivers and application software – D. System software and antivirus software Chapter 3: Computer Software 8 3 Software Categories Chapter 3: Computer Software 9 3 Application Software Productivity software can be defined as any type of application software that has the potential to help people do their work more efficiently Groupware is designed to help several people collaborate on a single project using local networks or Internet connections Chapter 3: Computer Software 10 3 Utility Software Utility software (a type of system software) is designed to help you monitor and configure settings for your computer system equipment, the operating system, or application software A desktop widget is a specialized utility program that appears on a computer’s screen-based desktop Chapter 3: Computer Software 11 3 Device Drivers A device driver is software that helps a peripheral device establish communication with a computer Windows Device Manager Chapter 3: Computer Software 12 3 SECTION B Popular Applications Document Production Software Spreadsheet Software “Number Crunching” Software Database Software Graphics Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 13 3 SECTION B Popular Applications Music Software Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software Educational Software Entertainment Software Business Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 14 3 Question 032200 Just about everyone has used iTunes software to download music. iTunes software also allows you to list the songs you’ve downloaded, delete songs, find songs, and organize your music into play lists. These features of iTunes are similar to what type of software? – A. Word processing software – B. Spreadsheet software – C. Database software – D. Groupware Chapter 3: Computer Software 15 3 Document Production Software Assists you with composing, editing, designing, printing, and electronically publishing documents – Word processing – Desktop publishing – Web authoring Chapter 3: Computer Software 16 3 Document Production Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 17 3 Document Production Software Document production software may include: – Spelling checker • Spelling dictionary – Thesaurus – Grammar checker – Feature to analyze the reading level • Readability formula – Search and Replace feature Chapter 3: Computer Software 18 3 Document Production Software The format for a document refers to the way that all elements are arranged on the page Chapter 3: Computer Software 19 3 Document Production Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 20 3 Document Production Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 21 3 Document Production Software Mail merge automatically creates personalized letters by combining the information in a mailing list with a form letter Additional capabilities of word processing software include: – Automatically generating table of contents and index – Numbering and positioning footnotes – Providing document templates and document wizards – Exporting to HTML format Chapter 3: Computer Software 22 3 Spreadsheet Software A spreadsheet uses rows and columns of numbers to create a model or representation of a real solution Spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, iWork Numbers, or OpenOffice Calc, provides tools for creating electronic spreadsheets Chapter 3: Computer Software 23 3 Spreadsheet Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 24 3 Spreadsheet Software A formula tells the computer how to use the contents of cells in calculations – Cell references • Relative reference • Absolute reference – Mathematical operators – Functions – Automatic recalculations Chapter 3: Computer Software 25 3 Spreadsheet Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 26 3 “Number Crunching” Software Provides a structured environment dedicated to a particular number crunching task – Statistical software – Mathematical modeling software – Money management software • Personal finance software – Tax preparation software Chapter 3: Computer Software 27 3 Database Software A database is a collection of data – Database software helps you enter, find, organize, update, and report information stored in a database Chapter 3: Computer Software 28 3 Database Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 29 3 Database Software A query language such as SQL (Structured Query Language) provides a set of commands for locating and manipulating data – Natural language query – Query by example Chapter 3: Computer Software 30 3 Graphics Software Designed to help you create, manipulate, and print graphics – Paint software – Photo editing software – Drawing software – 3-D graphics software – CAD software – Presentation software Chapter 3: Computer Software 31 3 Graphics Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 32 3 Music Software Allows you to make your own digital voice and music recordings – Audio editing software – Audio playback software – Ear training software – Notation software – Computer-aided music software – MIDI sequencing software Chapter 3: Computer Software 33 3 Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software Provides a set of tools for – Transferring video footage from a camcorder to a computer – Clipping out unwanted footage – Assembling video segments – Adding special visual effects – Adding a sound track DVD authoring software creates DVDs with Hollywood-style menus Chapter 3: Computer Software 34 3 Educational Software Educational software – Helps you learn and practice new skills For older students and adults, software is available for such diverse educational endeavors as learning languages, training yourself to use new software, learning how to play the piano or guitar, improving keyboarding skills, and even learning managerial skills for a diverse workplace Chapter 3: Computer Software 35 3 Entertainment Software Computer games are the most popular type of entertainment software – Role-playing – Action – Adventure – Puzzle – Simulation – Sports – Strategy Chapter 3: Computer Software 36 3 Business Software Vertical market software is designed to automate specialized tasks in a specific market or business Horizontal market software is generic software that just about any type of business can use – Payroll software – Accounting software – Project management software Chapter 3: Computer Software 37 3 SECTION C Buying Software Consumer Basics Software Copyrights and Licenses Chapter 3: Computer Software 38 3 Question 032300 Suppose you purchase a new computer and it comes with Microsoft Office installed. After using this software for 30 days, it displays a message indicating that to keep using it, you will have to pay. This software is an example of all of the following EXCEPT: – A. Proprietary software – B. Open source software – C. Commercial software – D. Demoware Chapter 3: Computer Software 39 3 Consumer Basics Most operating systems include a handful of small applications and a good variety of useful utility software Chapter 3: Computer Software 40 3 Consumer Basics A software suite is a collection of application software sold as a single package Chapter 3: Computer Software 41 3 Consumer Basics Available in many types of stores Software contained on distribution media Make sure your computer meets the system requirements Chapter 3: Computer Software 42 3 Software Copyrights and Licenses A copyright is a form of legal protection that grants the author of an original “work” exclusive rights – Copyright notice Software licenses, also called license agreements, define the ways in which you may use a computer program – Single-user – Site – Multiple-user – Concurrent – Shrink-wrap Chapter 3: Computer Software 43 3 Software Copyrights and Licenses EULA (End-User License Agreement) Different types of software licenses – Public domain – Proprietary – Commercial software – Demoware – Shareware – Freeware – Open source – BSD – GPL Chapter 3: Computer Software 44 3 SECTION D Installing Software and Upgrades Installation Basics Installing Local Applications Installing Portable Software and Web Apps Software Upgrades and Updates Uninstalling Software Chapter 3: Computer Software 45 3 Question 032400 Suppose that you’re looking for software to convert a YouTube video into a format you can use with Windows Media Player or iMovie. You don’t want to bother downloading or installing any software on your computer. What should you look for? – A. A Web app – B. Open source software – C. A .zip file – D. A portable app Chapter 3: Computer Software 46 3 Installation Basics Software installation is a process that places a program into a computer so that it can be run or executed Chapter 3: Computer Software 47 3 Installing Local Applications Chapter 3: Computer Software 48 3 Installing Local Applications Chapter 3: Computer Software 49 3 Installing Portable Software and Web Apps Portable software is designed to run from removable storage, such as a CD or USB flash drive – Installation is simply a matter of getting program files to the media on which they are supposed to run A Web application, or Web App, is software that is accessed with a Web browser – May require client-side program to be installed Chapter 3: Computer Software 50 3 Software Upgrades and Updates Software publishers regularly update their software – Add new features – Fix bugs – Improve security Periodically, software publishers replace older versions of a software product with a new version that’s sometimes referred to as a software upgrade A software update is a small section of program code that replaces part of the software you currently have installed – Service packs Chapter 3: Computer Software 51 3 Software Upgrades and Updates Updates are usually available online for registered software Automatic Update option Always install updates and service packs when they become available Many software publishers require users to type in a validation code to complete an upgrade Chapter 3: Computer Software 52 3 Uninstalling Software Uninstall routines delete the software’s files from the various folders on your computer’s hard disk Chapter 3: Computer Software 53 3 SECTION E Security Software Security Software Basics Security Suites Antivirus Modules Chapter 3: Computer Software 54 3 Question 032500 Let’s assume that you have antivirus software installed on your computer and it is up to date. You can trust it to do a pretty good job of protecting your computer from viruses and: – A. Bots, worms, Trojans, keyloggers, and rootkits – B. RATs, spoofs, and defective Web apps – C. Operating system security holes – D. Fake e-commerce sites Chapter 3: Computer Software 55 3 Security Software Basics Security software is designed to protect computers from various forms of destructive software and unauthorized intrusions The terms malicious software and malware refer to any computer program designed to surreptitiously enter a computer, gain unauthorized access to data, or disrupt normal processing operations A blended threat describes malware that combines more than one type of malicious program Chapter 3: Computer Software 56 3 Security Software Basics Computer virus Computer worm – Mass-mailing worm Trojan horse – Keylogger – Remote Access Trojan (RAT) Bot – Zombie – Botnet Spyware Chapter 3: Computer Software 57 3 Security Software Basics What does malware do? Chapter 3: Computer Software 58 3 Security Software Basics The term rootkit refers to software tools used to conceal malware and backdoors that have been installed on a victim’s computer A virus hoax usually arrives as an e-mail message containing dire warnings about a supposedly new virus on the loose Chapter 3: Computer Software 59 3 Security Suites A security suite integrates several security modules to protect against the most common types of malware, unauthorized access, and spam A security suite costs less than purchasing standalone security modules Chapter 3: Computer Software 60 3 Security Suites Chapter 3: Computer Software 61 3 Antivirus Modules Antivirus software is a type of utility software that looks for and eradicates viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and bots – A virus signature is a section of program code, such as a unique series of instructions, that can be used to identify a known malicious program, much as a fingerprint is used to identify an individual – Virus signatures and other information that antivirus software uses to identify and eradicate malware is stored in one or more files usually referred to as virus definitions Chapter 3: Computer Software 62 3 Antivirus Modules Chapter 3: Computer Software 63 3 Antivirus Modules Most experts recommend that you configure your antivirus software to periodically scan all the files on your computer If, during the scanning process, your virus protection software identifies a virus, worm, Trojan horse, or bot in a file or attachment, it can try to remove the infection, put the file into quarantine, or simply delete the file Chapter 3: Computer Software 64 3 What Do You Think? 033100 Do you believe that software piracy is a serious issue? – A. Yes B. No C. Not sure 033200 Do you know of any instances of software piracy? – A. Yes B. No C. Not sure 033300 Do you think that most software pirates understand that they are doing something illegal? – A. Yes B. No C. Not sure 033400 Should software publishers try to adjust software pricing for local markets? – A. Yes B. No C. Not sure Chapter 3: Computer Software 65 Chapter 3 Complete Computer Concepts 2012